Agent 9 won my heart the last time with its first book, Flood-A-Geddon. It was cute, fun, and even cartoonishly action-packed. Created by James Burks of Bird and Squirrel fame, this new series had a pretty good start, and a sequel was made a year after the first Agent 9 was released. I was very excited to see what adventures awaited Agent 9 that I bought the following book titled Mind Control as soon as possible. While admittedly, this new story isn’t quite as good as the previous adventure, it was still a blast non the less as it delivered on its promise of giving our feline friend new obstacles and a new threat to conquer.
Agent 9 is on a new mission to stop a new threat called The Wolf. The Wolf works with an evil corporation known as DiViSiON and plans to find some missing pieces so he can put together a mind-control device. Agent 9 is eager to start her new mission, but her boss forces her to do something she is uncomfortable doing, working with a partner. A mouse named Traps is Agent 9’s new partner, but they have a hard time getting along at first. With time running out, can Agent 9, Traps, and 9’s robotic assistant FiN find a way to stop The Wolf before he finishes his mind-control device?
The story, like before, feels like a Saturday morning cartoon in the form of a comic book. It’s old-fashioned but in a good way. The endearing nature of the main leads and the action-packed momments of tension is exceptionally balanced. Some lessons for kids about teamwork and learning to ask for help from others are fantastically done. The storytelling is made more for kids than adults, but even adults who are kids at heart will find it irresistible. I’ll also credit that it’s not just the same old story once again, as the obstacles our heroes endure do have a point in helping the messages and tone follow smoothly through the narrative. Agent 9’s second chapter may not be as impactful as the first one, but it was still so much fun that it hardly mattered.
The characters are all charming and likable, especially regarding Agent 9 and her new partner, Traps. Agent 9 is just as lovable as in the first installment, and newcomer Traps is equally adorable. I remember saying in my review for the last book that I wished more characters interacted with Agent 9. Traps are one of the many characters that work well with Agent 9’s somewhat self-centered but also innocent nature. The way these characters interact is very charming to read, but admittedly, how they become real friends and work together as a team does happen a little too fast. Even with that said, their dialogue is excellent, and it is still satisfying to see their friendship form in the end. Even the villain, known as The Wolf, is also very fun. His evil diabolical ways are more grounded and a little less cartoony than King Crab, which helps him stand out even more. These characters are fun. They are not game-changing, but their childish way of talking is a winner, and I can see children being sucked into these wonderful personalities.
The Illustrations continue the simplistic style with very expressive emotions and backgrounds. Agent 9 and Trap’s facial expressions managed to put a big dumb grin on my face, and villains like The Wolf have very threatening but extraordinary designs. Panels are laid out to be as engaging as possible, and many illustrations showcase action-packed moments or show off the landscapes and backgrounds of the places our agents find themselves in. The action-packed moments steal the show this time and will make the young readers feel they are on the edge of their seats. I can tottaly see an animated series working in this style, and given James Burks's background in animation makes me appreciate these wacky illustrations even more.
This book once again proves Agent 9’s staying power. It’s amusing if a little rushed, a sequel that delivers what was good about the first installment and adds a new journey with nice lessons for kids about asking for help and teamwork while also having as much fun with its premise as possible it possibly can. The illustrations are charming and full of life, and the characters are cute and too irresistible to hate. Agent 9’s future seems bright, and I’m looking forward to what is next for our agent pals in hopefully another installment.
(Final Grade: B)